Rival talent show judges Jessie J and Tulisa Contostavlos are to battle it out for Best Female at this year's Mobo Awards.

The Voice coach and The X Factor judge will go head-to-head to be crowned queen of the music awards, at a ceremony at Liverpool's Echo Arena on 3 November.

Jessie J swept the board at last year's Mobos, picking up four out of the five gongs she was nominated for - Best UK act, best newcomer, Best Song for Do It Like A Dude and Best Album for Who You Are.

But she could now lose her crown to rival Tulisa, the Press Association reported.

Also in the running for the Best Female title are Emeli Sande, along with Jay-Z's protege Rita Ora, former X Factor contestant Rebecca Ferguson and Running singer Jessie Ware

Plan B and Emeli Sande - who is riding high on the success of performing at the Olympics opening and closing ceremonies this summer - lead the nominations with five nods each.

Rapper, actor and director Plan B - real name Ben Drew - is up for Best Male, Best Hip-hop/Grime act, Best Video, Best Song and Best Album for Ill Manors; the soundtrack to his directorial debut, a gritty crime drama which he also wrote.

As well as Best Female, Sande is nominated for Best R&B/Soul Act, Best Video for My Kind Of Love, Best Song for Next To Me and Best Album for Our Version of Events.

Hot Right Now singer Rita Ora and artist and producer Labrinth follow with four nominations each.

Tulisa said it felt "scary" to be nominated for a Mobo without her ex-bandmates

Ora has been recognised in the categories for Best Female, Best Video for RIP featuring Tinie Tempah, Best Album for Ora and Best Newcomer.

Tempah's loyalties may be divided as he also features on Labrinth's track Earthquake, which is up for Best Song.

Ora's competition for the Best Newcomer gong includes former X Factor contestant Misha B and teen heartthrob Conor Maynard.

Ed Sheeran, who was the golden boy of this year's Brit Awards has three nominations.

Husband and wife Jay-Z and Beyonce will compete for the title of Best International Act.

Rihanna, Nicki Minaj and Canadian star Drake are also among the nominees for that category.

Tulisa confessed it felt "scary" to be nominated for a Mobo on her own.

The former N-Dubz singer, who is up for Best Female, said at the nominations launch party at London's Floridita nightclub: "It feels amazing. But pretty scary.

"It feels strange knowing all the past years I've been here it's been with N-Dubz, so it's a weird experience."

As for being nominated against rival judge Jessie J, she said: "What about it?"

The 24-year-old singer insisted she was fine about running into her N-Dubz bandmate and ex-boyfriend Fazer at the nominations party.

"Fazer's my family, of course I'm going to bump into him. It just feels the same as before. As most people will know, me and Fazer were seeing each other on and off since we were kids, so even while we were in N-Dubz before we were together, it's still like that."

Fazer insisted there was no competition between them now they are both solo artists.

He said: "It's not even competitive, we all want each other to be prosperous, we all want each other to do well.

"If T gets a number one we all celebrate with T, if Dappy gets one we all celebrate with him, if I get one we all celebrate, you know what I mean."

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2012 Mobo Nominations

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Tulisa attends the announcement of the nominees for the MOBO Awards in Wardour Street, London.

Tulisa attends the announcement of the nominees for the MOBO Awards in Wardour Street, London.

Tulisa attends the announcement of the nominees for the MOBO Awards in Wardour Street, London.

Tulisa attends the announcement of the nominees for the MOBO Awards in Wardour Street, London.

Delilah attends the announcement of the nominees for the MOBO Awards in Wardour Street, London.

Preeya Kalidas attends the announcement of the nominees for the MOBO Awards in Wardour Street, London.

Rebecca Ferguson attends the announcement of the nominees for the MOBO Awards in Wardour Street, London.

Louis Smith attends the announcement of the nominees for the MOBO Awards in Wardour Street, London.

Gemma Cairney attends the announcement of the nominees for the MOBO Awards in Wardour Street, London.

Misha Bryan attends the announcement of the nominees for the MOBO Awards in Wardour Street, London.

Cover Drive attend the announcement of the nominees for the MOBO Awards in Wardour Street, London.

Kanya King and Nancy Dell'Olio attend the announcement of the nominees for the MOBO Awards in Wardour Street, London.